Academy update from Phil Greenaway

The 2009-10 season has seen a number of locally developed players breaking through into the Gloucester Rugby first team squad showing that the Academy is fulfilling its prime function of generating talent for senior level rugby.

With 2009 drawing to a close, Gloucester Rugby's Assistant Academy Manager, Phil Greenaway, provided the club website with an update on how the players have been progressing.

Gloucester have five players in the England Under 20 Elite Squad this season which seemed a good place to start.

"All the England U20 squad members have been to Portugal recently and they're all fit and healthy."

"Danny Williams and Shaun Knight are both playing at Cinderford and are doing really well. They both played extremely well in Cinderford's win over Sedgley Park last weekend."

"Jonny May played for Moseley last weekend in their Championship fixture against Nottingham. He had a pretty tough task on his hands as Nottingham were fielding Billy Twelvetrees and Sam Vesty who are dual registered from the Leicester Tigers. But that's a great learning experience for Jonny and he'll benefit from that."

"Jordi Pasqualin has been struggling a little bit to get some good time but I'm hoping to push him up to Moseley to get some match action which will be good for him and the club."

"And Freddie Burns has had his operation on his calf muscles which has gone well and he'll be back shortly."
Behind those at U20 level is a group of younger players who are also making their mark as Phil explained:

"We've also got the younger lads out on loan and getting playing experience elsewhere. Charlie Simpson-Daniel and Mikey Wilcox and Reuben Haile have all been getting good game time this way."

"Dan Williams unfortunately picked up an injury recently which was a shame because he was just starting to run into some really good form and I think he's going to miss four to five weeks with an ankle injury."

"In the U18s, we've also got a really talented group of lads. We'd like to see a bit more of these lads but obviously they're involved in schools rugby and, for the past month or so, have been part of the National Academies set up."

"We've got lads like Dan Robson who can play at nine or ten. He played in the England 18s Schools game up at Sale recently and made one of the tries and also got half an hour in the game at Hartpury recently and impressed at ten. Dan's a really good prospect."

"Ryan Mills is just coming back from a knee injury. I think Ryan's going to be a big star of the future at the club."

"And then you've got the likes of Gareth Evans who is in the Wales 20s squad already and is still only 18 years old. He's studying here at Hartpury as well."

"I suppose there is a chance that Gareth may feature when England U20s take on Wales U20s at Kingsholm in the New Year. It'd be great but he is still two years young. For him to make the squad is a great achievement in itself."

"We've had Rob Langley and Harry Casson both involved in the England Academies squad over the past week against Australia. Rob is a back rower/second rower while Harry is an out and out six. Both of them have done really well."

"You don't read too much about these guys because they're September to December birthdays and you usually have to have a post January birth date to get involved in the international set up so they've done well. They'll be with us full time next year. It's a really exciting group coming through."

Kingsholm, of course, will be staging two England U20s Six Nations internationals against Wales and Ireland in February 2010 so Gloucester Rugby supporters will have an opportunity to see some of their U20s prospects in representative action.

Tickets are already on sale at the Kingsholm Ticket Office and Phil thinks they could potentially be great occasions.

"It'd be nice of the Gloucester supporters were able to turn up and support the guys assuming they get picked. I know it'd mean a lot to the boys as they're all local products."

Gloucester have had a great track record at U20 level recently with five players having travelled to Tokyo in the summer to take part in the U20 Junior World Cup.

And the great thing is that those players, - Shaun Knight, Dave Lewis, Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder and Dan Williams - are now contributing at first team level.

"They've all been involved in the first team squad and shows that the U20s set up is a proving ground for these boys. It's a big stepping stone in their development from schoolboys through to making the first team squad."

Speaking to GRTV in front of the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, Henry Trinder explained how important the West Country Challenge Cup is going to be for the Cherry and Whites in their preseason preparations.

Speaking to GRTV at preseason training this Tuesday, new signing Willi Heinz gave an update on his recovery from a leg injury and expressed his enjoyment since his arrival in new surroundings with Gloucester Rugby.

Speaking to GRTV after the 22-23 defeat against Bordeaux-Begles which denied Gloucester a place in next season's European Rugby Champions Cup, Nick Wood rued the momentary lapse in concentration which allowed the French side to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

As Gloucester prepare for their 39th game of the season, against Bordeaux-Begles at Sixways on Sunday, David Humphreys told the local media that this week has been all about getting the players mentally and physically ready after a tough game against Connacht last Sunday.

Gloucester Rugby and Scotland scrum half Greig Laidlaw is gearing up for Rugby World Cup with his international teammates, and speaking to the assembled media this week, Laidlaw is excited to be in familiar surroundings at the showcase tournament.

With 50 days to go until Rugby World Cup 2015 gets underway several of the nations that are set to take to the Kingsholm Stadium field during the pool stages were in action in Toronto in Round Three of the Pacific Nations Cup.